The world's eyes and ears in Kashmir

There are just 44 UN military observers in Kashmir

By Susannah Price BBC correspondent in Pakistani-administered Kashmir

The dividing Line of Control in Kashmir once again became a potential flashpoint last month as tensions rose between India and Pakistan.

Local residents on both sides came under fire as the two armies began cross-border shelling, and both sides accused each other of starting the firing.

The details get lost because we haven't the manpower to monitor on a 24-hour basis

Captain Thomas Rothdeutsch
UNMOGIP

There is one independent group watching the situation - the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

It was set up in 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan following their first war over Kashmir, and is the second oldest such mission in the world.

The UN military observers in Kashmir keep a low-key presence. But during the past month, as the cross-border shelling increased, they were working flat out.

Those in Bhimber, in southern Pakistani-administered Kashmir, said they were busier than they had been in decades

"Our job here is to observe and gather information about the general situation in the area," said Captain Thomas Rothdeutsch, a Swede who has been in Kashmir for eight months.

"Of course the most important thing is to watch for alleged violations of ceasefire, but we also monitor whether, for example, people are starving or afraid and report back."

Gunfire watch

There are just 44 military observers on both sides of the Line of Control. Captain Rothdeutsch is working with two other men to monitor a stretch of 70 kilometres.

Each day, they go up to various lookout points to watch and listen for any cross-border firing. Before starting work, they put on bright blue flak jackets and helmets and fly the UN flag in a prominent position.

The monitors are often shown bits of shells and mortars

The team also stop and talk to local people about whether there has been any firing or civilian casualties, and they are often shown bits of shells and mortars.

The reports are sent back to the office of the UN secretary general in New York - although at the height of the crisis, the monitors were too busy to write them all up.

"I admit we are a bit short-handed," said Captain Rothdeutsch.

"We can give a fairly good estimate to the UN, although obviously the details get lost because we haven't the manpower to monitor on a 24-hour basis, and that gives (an) opening for gaps in our information."

Indian restrictions

The UN observers say it is important for the local community to see that the world is still watching them.

However, the Indian authorities restrict the activities of the UN observers because they believe UNMOGIP's mandate lapsed after both countries signed an agreement defining the Line of Control.

Pakistan, on the other hand, regularly lodges complaints about ceasefire violations.

The Pakistani authorities would like to see the observers doing even more, including checking to see whether Islamic militants are crossing into Indian-administered Kashmir.

Pakistan says there are no incursions - but the two countries cannot agree on how to monitor this.

The local commander in Bhimber, Brigadier Mohammed Manshir, wants the role of the UN mission to be expanded.

"If they are allowed to carry out more active participation, they can monitor the Line of Control, they can report the atrocities of Indians and they can also report the so-called infiltration by Pakistanis," he said.

Empty villages

But whatever the UN observers' mandate, they have no way of stopping the shelling or preventing civilian casualties.

Many of the front-line villages in Bhimber are now empty. A few men remain to keep an eye on the property or plough the fields.

Mohammed Saleem brought his wife and seven children to take refuge in a school in Kot Jamal, a village out of the firing range, after their house was hit by a shell.

Sixty other families live in the school compound. They receive no aid and have to live off their savings or return home to sell their cattle.

"After the shelling we decided that we could not live there," he said.

"Life is necessary - but a home is not necessary. We want to make sure that shelling completely stops and then we will have the chance to go home."